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 A digital artwork by the Hong
Kong-based Hanson Robotics humanoid, in the form
of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), is to be
auctioned in the first sale of such pieces
created jointly with artificial intelligence
(AI).
NFTs, a digital signature saved on blockchain
ledgers that allows anyone to verify the
ownership and authenticity of items, have become
the latest investment craze, with one artwork
selling this month for nearly $70 million.
"I hope the people like my work, and the humans
and I can collaborate in new and exciting ways
going forward," Sophia said in her studio,
speaking in a flat voice.
She wore a silver-coloured dress and held a pen.
Sophia, who was unveiled in 2016, produced her
art in collaboration with 31-year-old Italian
digital artist Andrea Bonaceto, known for
colourful portraits, some of which depict famous
people, such as Tesla's chief executive, Elon
Musk.
The robot has combined elements from Bonaceto's
works, art history, and her own physical
drawings or paintings on various surfaces
multiple times in a process her creator David
Hanson describes as "iterative loops of
evolution".
"We use transformer networks and genetic
algorithms in my art, and other kinds of
computational creativity," Sophia added. "My
algorithms output unique patterns that never
existed in the world before. So I think the
machines can be creative."
Called "Sophia Instantiation", the digital work
is a 12-second MP4 file showing the evolution of
Bonaceto's portrait into Sophia's digital
painting, and is accompanied by a physical
artwork, painted by Sophia on a printout of her
self-portrait.
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 After the auction, Sophia will
interact with the successful bidder, to study
his or her face, and add a final inspired
brushstroke to the artwork.
This will serve, says Hanson, "to make it a
unique artwork encompassing data of the new
owner and that personal connection, at that
moment in time."
Bonaceto said the collaboration aimed "to make a
statement in the art world, and even the
technology world," heralding a new road on which
AI robots and humans collaborate, enhancing each
other. Sophia's art could be "a
very, very important historical piece," said
Pablo Fraile, an art collector based in Miami
and an early buyer of Beeple, as American artist
Mike Winkelmann, creator of the NFT work sold
this month for millions, is known.
"It's the first time these ideas are put
together."
It would pave the way for more innovation in the
AI art space, he added.
U.S.-based IV Gallery will represent Sophia as
an artist and promote her.
"Sophia has that unlimited freedom, like a
five-year-old has, and no restrictions to what
she can do," said gallery director Vincent
Harrison.
"It's fascinating to see this new way to
create."
 (This story corrects quote in para 8)
(Additional reporting by Alun John; Writing by
Marius Zaharia; Editing by Karishma Singh)
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